KATHMANDU, March 16: Special Advisor on International Disability Rights (SAIDR) to the US government Sara Minkara, along with US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson joined the Wheelchair Marathon program at Exhibition Road, Bhrikuti Mandap on Saturday.

During the program, Minkara discussed the role of sports in building communities that uplift the value of persons with disabilities. She expressed appreciation for the Bodhisattvas in Action (BIA) Institute’s work in providing skills and employment training for persons with disabilities, enabling them to participate fully in their community.

Addressing the function, she mentioned that adaptive sports help reduce broader societal barriers to participation, stating that when persons with disabilities see themselves on the field, they may find the confidence and passion to participate. 

She also highlighted that representation plays a key role in countering the stigma that persons with disabilities are objects of pity or ridicule. She emphasized that representation doesn’t stop with sport, adding, “We must also consider representations of persons with disabilities in film and television, both behind and in front of the camera. The greater the representation, the harder it is for persons with disabilities to be ignored. It’s time that we are given the spotlight so society can truly see our value,” she added

Minkara also expressed her concern about how the U.S. can help Nepal become a regional leader in adaptive sports.

Along with observing the program, Minkara distributed prizes to the winners. The Bodhisattvas in Action (BIA) Institute organizes a yearly wheelchair marathon. Additionally, the US Embassy in Nepal has historically supported sports programs due to their unique capacity to transcend issues that would normally cause societal divisions, such as economic status, gender, and caste.